Refrigerator-wagon.



No. 643,244. Patented F b ls E. w. BEVER. e |900' REFRIGERATUR WAGON.

Application filed Apr. 10, 1897,)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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BEFBIGEHATUR WAGON.

(Application led Apr. 10, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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iTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FDVARD 7. BEYER, OF WASHINGTONVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

REFRIGRATOR-WAGON.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No.^643,244, dated February 13, 1900.

Application tiled April 10,*1 S97.

To if/ZZ whom, it may concer/1Q:

Be it known that 1, EDWARD W. BEYER, residing at Washingtonville, in the county of Montour and State of Pennsylvania, have inl vented a new and useful Refrigerator-IVagon, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to refrigerator-wagons, and more particularly to the peculiar construction of the portable refrigerator attachment adapted to be attached to the body of wagons now in use.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view showing the practical application of my invention, the ice-box and grating being removedand exposed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the refrigerator-box. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the refrigerator-box and wagon, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of the wagon, showing the spring mechanism to operate the rear door; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the bar carrying the spring, the parts being detached.

In carrying out my invention I employ a wagon A, which may be of any desirable construction, though in practice I prefer to have the same with straight sides and the bottom thereof lined with galvanized iron. Within this wagon I arrange my improved refrigera-r tor-box B, said box being slid into the wagon, fitting snugly between'the sides thereof, with the bottom of the wagon constituting the bottom of the box. Instead of constructing the refrigerator box separate and detachable from the wagon it may be formed integral therewith or permanently `secured in position. The refrigerator-box comprises the upright sidesv C and the front part D, said sides and front being secured to the corner studs E, side studs F, and front studs Gr. As seen best in Fig. 3, the sides C of the box B lit snugly within and between the sides X of the wagon, and the bottom edges of the said sides Crest upon the bottom X of the Wagon, which in this case forms the bottom of the box. The refrigerator-box has a top H, and at the rear end is arranged an upwardly-opening door I, while Serial No. 631,628. (No model.)

at the forward end is arranged a similarconstruction of door K. The rear door I, however, extends the entire height of the rear end of the refrigerator-box and contacts with the tail-gate I of the Wagon,while the forward door K extends only a short distance down the front of said box.

An ice-chamber L is arranged at midway the length of the box and at the top thereof, the said chamber having the hinged top L', and it will be noted that the chamber and top are somewhat shorter or narrower than the box, the purpose of such construction being to permit the lid of the ice-chamber beingraised within the canopy or cover of the wagon, as most clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A receptacle M, consisting of side and end walls, is supported within the icechamber with its walls separated from the walls of the latter, and adapted to be positioned in said receptacle and supported therein through the medium of a flange formed about the lower edges of the receptaclewalls is an ice box or pan M. The ice-chamber has longitudinal slots M2 produced in the bottom thereof and supported within the pan, and above the said slots are the hoods M3, upon which rest the wooden grating M4. A drip-pipe N leads from the bottom of the icepan 'and is carried forwardly and downwardly and passed through the bottom of the 'wagon within the forward end, by means of which the water from the ice passes from the refrigerator, this drip-pipe N having the enlarged or funnel-shaped mouth N', said funnel-shaped mouth being secured about an y opening formed in a drip-pan N2, secured to the bottom of receptacle M beneath the icepan, so that the drippage from said box or pan will be removed through the medium of the drip-pipe. A short pipe M3 leads from the ice-box to the drip-pan N2 and conveys the drippings to said drip-pau.

Supporting arms or braces N8 are provided for eacliof the doors I and K, said arms consisting of two sections pivoted together, one

. of the sections being also pivoted to the side of the refrigerator-box and the other section to the lid. A spring N4 is provided for each arm, said spring being secured to the side of the refrigerator-box and engaging the arms for the purpose of holding the sections thereof IOO in alinement when the lid is raised, thus preventing the accidental closing or lowering of the latter. It Will be seen that two arms are provided for each lid, one on each side of the refrigerator-box, and a rope N is secured at one end to one of the sections of the arm, passed through guides carried by a suitable strip secured to the refrigerator-box and extending transversely thereof, said rope extending to theopposite arm or brace and having its end secured to the corresponding section thereof. It will be understood that when the lid has been raised and it is desired to lower the same a pull upon said rope will swing said pivoted arm-sections out of alinement and permit the lid or door to lower. The rope is provided with a ring N5, so that it may be conveniently operated to effect the lowering of the lid or door.

Any desirable material can be placed over the cracks or openings of the doors, so as to provide against any possibility of dust, the., entering the same.

By suspending the ice pan or chest within the chamber, as before described, an air-space O is provided between the sides of the chamber and the ice pan or chest through which the air circulates.

Meat-hooks are driven into the front and side studs and upon which is hung the meat to be refrigerated, and at the forward end of the refrigerator is arranged an extension P, forming a chamber having communication with the main body of the refrigerator through the medium of a slot P', formed in its inner wall P, by means of which the cold air from the refrigerator proper passes to the extension or box P, said extension or box serving as a seat for the driver, and is provided with the hinged top P2, by means of which access is to be had to the interior, said extension or box being provided for the purpose of containing the smaller cuts which are ready for delivery.

In order to provide for an escape of hot air from the refrigerator-box when the doors are closed, I provide a slot Q, which extends nearly across the top of the refrigerator-box just rear of the ice-chamber, said slot being covered by means of a iiexible strip Q', said strip being tacked at its respective side edges tothe top of the refrigerator-box on opposite sides of slot Q, thus preventing dust and dirt from passing into the refrigerator, but permitting the air to escape therefrom at the ends of the strip. Upon the inner side of the top of the refrigerator-box is a guide-board R, said board normally resting upon suitable inclined cleats R2, secured to the sides of the refrigerator box and providing a passage which leads directly to the slot Q, so that as the rear door is shut down the hot air will beV forced between the guide-board and top out through a slot Q. The strip Q is of substantially inverted-U shape, as seen best in Fig. 2, whereby openings q are provided at the ends for the escape of the air.

It' at any time it should be desired to close the passage leading to the slot, the guideboard is elevated and secured by means of a vbutton R, asmost clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Now in operation the refrigerator-box can be arranged in any of ,the wagon-bodies now in common use, and by making the ice-chamber narrower than the refrigerator-box I am enabled to arrange the box Within a covered vehicle. The ice pan or chest is then placed within its receptacle and the tube connected therewith. The wooden grating is then placed in position, and the refrigerator is ready for use. Meats can be hung upon the hooks or racks and carried about during the warmest Weather. The small door at the front enables the vender to quickly and easily reach the small meat-s, and whenever it is necessary to cut the meats the rear door is elevated, giving ample room for such operation, and the smaller cuts which are ready for delivery are carried in the box or extension, which also serves as a seat.

It will thus be seen that I provide a refrigerator-wagon which is exceedingly cheap and simple in its construction and one which will efficiently carry out all of the objects for which it is intended.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the refrigeratorbox having a hinged door at each end thereof, of two supporting jointed arms, one section of each arm being pivoted to the side of the box and the other pivoted to the lid form'- ing a part of the door, a spring secured to the side of the box and engaginga section of each of the arms, and a rope secured at one end toone end of the sections of one arm and passed through guides and extended transversely of the box and having its end secured to the corresponding section of the arm at that side of the same, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with the refrigeratorbox having a hinged door, of a supporting jointed arm one section being pivoted to the side of the box and the other pivoted to the lid forming a part of the said door, a spring secured to the side of the box and engaging one of the sections of the arm, and a rope secured at one end to one end of one of the sections of the arm and passed through guides and extended transversely of the box and having its end secured there.

EDWARD lV. BEYER. Witnesses:

WM. KAsELERsT, JOHN W. FARNswoRTH.

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